Empty Bowls Project

It’s almost time for the second annual Empty Bowls Project. Those who attend the Thursday, Nov. 9, fundraiser at Woodland High School will receive a meal of soup and bread provided by local restaurants…as well as a hand-thrown ceramic bowl. The Empty Bowls Project is an international grassroots effort to raise both awareness and money in the fight to end hunger. It uses the act of creating bowls as both a symbolic visual of people in need and as a means to help fund local services.

The Woodland Action Center and Clark College have partnered on the project, supported by a grant from Arts of Clark County. The hand-thrown ceramic bowls to be given away at the fundraiser have been created by Clark College students. There will also be a silent auction of one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces from both professional and student artists. Proceeds will benefit the Woodland Action Center. The meal will be served by Woodland High School SkillsUSA students.

Woodland Action Center is both a food bank and community service center that was established more than 16 years ago. Its core program is distribution of food, personal hygiene, household items, and emergency supplies to low-income individuals and families. Woodland Action incorporates food bank best practices by offering nontraditional hours and a personal shopping experience intended to empower client choice and reduce waste. Through a partnership with Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington, the center has also been able to offer emergency housing assistance. Its nonprofit thrift store was established in 2014 to support operational costs of the food bank and provide job skills training with the partnership of Goodwill and WorkSource.